According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Myanmar under military rule continues to be among the world’s worst countries for press freedom. In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Myanmar ranks 169th out of 180 countries, maintaining its position as a country with severely restricted press freedom. The Independent Press Council of Myanmar (IPCM) reports that since the military coup in 2021, seven journalists have been killed nationwide, over 200 journalists have been arrested, and 40 remain in detention, including 33 men and 7 women.
The journalists who were killed are Sai Sai, Asaing Kay (aka Sai Win Aung), Pu Tuidim, Ko Ling Ling Tun, Phoe Thiha (aka Myat Thu Tun), Htet Myat Thu, and Win Htut Oo (aka Fight Zay). Additionally, 11 journalists, including Shin Devi, Sai Zaw, and Si Thu Aung Myint, have received maximum sentences ranging from 10 years to 20 years imprisonment and life sentences.
The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) states that the state of media freedom in Myanmar remains extremely dire. The military council’s internet restrictions, oppression, arrests, and killings of journalists constitute a blatant violation of press freedom and obstruct the public’s right to information. The organization emphasizes that arresting journalists and restricting access to information through various means represents a human rights violation that effectively blinds the public to current events. IMJA calls for the immediate release of detained journalists on World Press Freedom Day and urges all organizations to respect journalists’ rights to gather and freely report news.
